Releasable choke



Sept. 1, 1936. MCI-IRlTENS-EN 2,052,

'RELEASEABLE CHOKE Filed April 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l g m/rm HGHRISTENSEN.

Sept. 1, 1936.

M. CHRISTENSEN RELEASEABLE CHOKE Filed April 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MGHRIS ENSEN. (e: 8

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 iED s'rres I Y RELEAVSABLE CHOKE Tex.

Application April 8, 1935, Serial No. 15,216

8 Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in flow chokes and particularly of the type used in connection with the control and measuring of theflow from oil and gas wells or in other fluid conducting lines where it is desired to restrict the flow of fluid.

It is'the usual practice in devices of this sort to provide a restricted area through which the fluid is compelled to pass in order to govern the volume which will pass a given point in a predetermined period of time. In connection with oil and gas wells where the fluid contains abrasives such as sand and other materials it is obvious thatthe choke member becomes worn and must be replaced at frequent intervals if an accurate gauge of the flow of fluid is to be had.

With the advent of proration of the flow of fluid from the various wells chokes of this gen- 29 eral typecame into prominence and it has been found from actual practice that these chokes must be replaced quite frequently so that the present invention has been devised with the object in view of providing a choke which may be very quickly replaced. a

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which maybe incorporated in the flow line in such a manner that a new choke member maybe inserted in the line with a minimum of 30 effort; I

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device for the choke member in a flow choke assembly. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a choke member which may be'clamped in position with a suitable lever mechanism.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a choke assembly wherein choke members of different lengths and sizes'lnay be inserted 4d and removed from the device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flow choke wherein a slidable clamping member is provided to receive the choke and hold it in operative position. P

4 5" Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following. description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: i Fig. 1 is a top plan view lookingdowh on a 5'5 choke assembly embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the choke assembly seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

55 illustrating the arrangement of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l and showing the adjustment features of the device.

Fig. 5 shows the lever mechanism being operated in order to replace the choke member. 5

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of the invention wherein the adjustable features have been eliminated to some extent.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 1--'| of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows. 10

It will be understood that the fluid is conducted from the well through a tubing or string of pipe and brought to the surface where it is discharged into the fiow line to be conveyed to the storage or pipe line as the case may be. In 15 order to restrict and engage the flow of the well, it is usual to position a flow bean or choke in the flow line extending from the well. Fig. 1 shows a body l which may be connected to the flow line extending to the well and this body serves as a support for a nipple 2 which will be connected to the other end of the flow line as it discharges to the storage or the pipe line.

The body I is made up of the housing 3 and the support ring 4 which are coupled together by the upper and lower brackets 5 and 6 respectively. These brackets serve to rigidly space the housing 3 and the support 4. The space between the housing 3 and the support 4 is to be occupied by' the chokemember I, which is arranged to seat at 8 on the shoulder 9 of the nipple 2 and form a seal therewith to discharge into the passage ID of the nipple. The restricted passage I I is formed in the choke member 1. The opposite end of the choke member 1 is also tapered at [2 to seat on the shoulder l3 formed on the bushing 14. The bushing M is slidably mounted in a chamber l5 in the housing 3. It will be noted that the bushing l4 carries the packing I6 so that a seal is formed with the chamber IE to pre vent'leakage.

In order to replace the choke member 1 the bushing I4 is slidable in the chamber l5 so that it may be retracted and the worn choke member removed and then moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 when a new choke member has bee inserted. I

It seems obvious that the choke member I will have to be clamped tightly in position in order to prevent leakage on the seats 8 and I3. To ac- 5'0:

complish this a leverage mechanism has been attachedto the housing 3 and contemplates a lever 2G'which car'riesa bar 2| at one end thereof. This bar 2| is pivoted at 22 to the link 23 which is in turn pivoted to the housing 3 at 24. The

QFFIQE' opposite end of the bar 2| is pivoted'at 25 to the push-rod 26 in such a manner that rocking movement of the handle 20 tends to force the pushrod 26 to the right as viewed in Fig. 5.

The push-rod 26 has threaded thereon an adjusting nut or thumb screw 21 which is provided with'an annular groove 23 which receives a tongue 29 which is formed on the yoke 30.

The yoke 39 has its ends 3i and 32 connected to or pivoted on the shaft 34 so that there may be a rocking movement of the yoke upon tilting of the lever 25.

The yoke 38 carries the pins 35 and-36 which are engaged in a groove 39 in the head of the bushing l4 so that the bushing I 4 is caused to move by the rocking movement of the yoke 39* when the handle 25 is operated. When the handle is raised to the position shown in Fig.5

the bushing it will be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 to release the choke member I, whereas when the lever is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 the bar 25 will be moved into substantial alignment with its pivot pins in alignment with the pivot 24, with the push-rod 26 moved {to the rightas far as possible. This, of course, moves the bushing Hi to the right and securely clamps the choke member I in position. By proper adjustment of the thumb screw 21 the bushing may be arranged 'to securely clamp the chokemember. Various lengths and sizes of choke-members can thus be accommodated by merely adjusting the thumbscrew 21. 1

- Additional adjustment may be obtained by adjusting the shaft 3 1 on its supporting bolts 4| by adjustment of the nuts 42 and 43, the bolt 4! being fixed to-the housing 3.

For slidable adjustment the thumb screw 21 is used, but where there ;is amaterial diiference in the length or sizeiof the choke the nuts 42 and 43 may be adjusted. I I In operation when a newchoke member is to be-inserted it is merely necessary to raise the lever or handle Zlifrom the Fig. 2 to the Fig. 3 position so that the clamping action on the choke will be released. The new choke member may then'be held, in position and the handle 23 re turned toits horizontal position to securely clamp the choke, If it is found that the choke is not securely clamp-ed either the thumb screw or the adjusting nuts may be manipulated until a seal is obtained at both ends of the choke. Figs. 6 and '7 show a modified form of them 'vention whose operation is the same as in the previous figures except that the yoke 35 has been replaced by the eccentric studs 58 and 5|, one of which is positioned in each of the brackets 5 and 5. These studs have fixed thereon the ends 52 and 53 of the choke 54 which is fixed to the end of the handle 20. When the handle 25 is rocked, of course, the stud -bolts'50 and 5! will also'rock. Each'of these studs carries an eccentric projection 55 which extends into the 'g'roove'39 in the head of the bushing l4.- The eccentric movement of these projections 55 tends to movethe bushing toward and away from the choke member I the same as in the previous form of the invention. The eccentricity and positioning of the projections 55 can be so arranged that the handle 20 will lock the choke member 7 in position when the handle assumes the position of Fig. 6. a

Broadly the invention contemplates a quickly replaceable choke member which can be clamped and locked in position with very little effort. While two forms of the invention have been shown and described, it is contemplated that other modifications may be employed within the scope of the appended claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. A flow choke of the character described comprising a body, a bracket thereon, a support on said bracket, a bushing slidable longitudinally in said body, means to manipulate the sliding of said bushing, a choke member adapted to be clamped in operative position between said support andsaid bushing, and packing means to seal between said bushing and body.

" operative position between said support and said bushing, said means being adjustable to clamp said choke in sealing position. I 3. A choke assembly comprising a choke member, afixed support to receive one end of said choke in sealing position, a slidable bushing to receive the other end of said choke, a housing for said bushing, anda quick release means operable to allow sliding of said bushing to engage or release said'choke member.

4." A choke assembly comprising a choke member, a fixed support to receive one end of said choke'in sealing position, a slidable bushing to receivethe other end of said choke, ahousing for said bushing, and means operable to slide said bushing to engage or release said choke member, said means acting to wedge said bushing against said choke member whereby the bushing may be locked in choke engaging position.

5. A choke assemblycomprising a choke memher, a fixed support to receive one end. of said choke'in sealing position, a slidable bushing to receive the other end of said choke, a housing for said bushing, and meansoperable to slide said bushing to engage or release said choke member, said means comprising a bar andlink connection to be, moved to ofi" or on center position- 6. Ina fiow choke assembly, a rigid fchoke mem-. ber, taperedjends thereon, seats for said ends to form a seal therewith, and means to move one of said seats to release or engage said member including a member operable to slide such seat ing on said'bushing to seal against said'housing,

8. A quickly replaceable flow choke comprising a body, a-fiow' choke; and means to releasably seal said choke to said body, said means comprising a bushingmounted to telescope into said body to releasesaid choke, and a member operable to wedge said bushing againstsaid choke by sliding said bushing longitudinally of said body. I v MARINUS CHRISTENSEN. 

